FAQs

Why make a recruitment video?

• The recruitment video is playing an increasingly important role for both families and college coaches today.
• Video allows college coaches to get an important insight into a player’s skills when they are not afforded the opportunity to play in front of a college coach in person.
• While nothing replaces performing in front of a college coach, a good video coupled with strong recommendations from qualified coaches that are familiar with a player’s skills and ability may be a factor as to whether or not a college coach chooses to recruit you or to pursue you further.
• Most of the initial recruiting activities on the part of the college coaches are done first by video.
• It is reported that athletes will receive an average grant in aid worth over $14,000. Parents know that their investment in their youngster, through a recruitment video, can pay off with a handsome scholarship.
• A professional recruitment video is a vital tool for evaluating and training athletes. While coaches might be able to see a player’s performance on a homemade video, a professionally produced video can give the aspiring athletes a distinct competitive edge because coaches will see them perform with video quality that they regularly see while watching televised sports.
• Parents of serious high school athletes who want to showcase their child’s achievements on the field and in the classroom are paying high prices for recruitment videos. Top Prospect Video Productions, LLC will produce each professional video for less than most production house prices and few can match Dale Wyman’s 30+ years of experience of shooting, editing, and sports knowledge.

Q: I am a senior in high school; is it too late to make a video?A: It is definitely not too late to make a video. In fact, if you are a senior and are not yet being scouted by a college, a video may give you the edge you need to get noticed.

Q: When is the ideal time to have a recruitment video made?A: During high school is when a recruitment video should be made. If there is an ideal time, it would be the summer after your sophomore year. If that is not possible, then during your junior or senior year is still enough time to get your video done and get you noticed.

Q: How do I get the video in the hands of college coaches?A: There are a couple of ways to get your video to the right people. Any serious athlete should have some colleges picked out that he/she would like to attend. You can call the coach or recruiter of those colleges and ask to whose attention you should send your YouTube link – something Top Prospect Video Productions, LLC provides to every student-athlete they represent.

Q: What can I be doing as a high school freshman to prepare for my college career?A: If you plan to play college sports, then playing that sport during high school and doing whatever is necessary to get better is important. You also need to focus on getting good grades since NCAA eligibility depends on how you perform academically in high school. Your freshman year is also a good time to start the process of looking at colleges you would like to attend and making yourself known to the coaches by making phone calls and/or attending athletic camps at their schools.

Q: Should I attend every camp available to get noticed by coaches?A: It is not necessary to attend every camp. It is also not affordable for most athletes because camps can be expensive. If you have identified a college that you definitely have an interest in and have made contact with a coach at that college, then attending a camp where you know that coach will be, may be a good idea. You can make a visit to the college you are interested in and watch some games or practices. If you contact the coach ahead of time and get permission, maybe you can set up a meeting with that coach after a practice.

Q: What are the requirements to get into a Division I college?A: It is not only athletic ability that you need to play sports at the college level. Student/athletes also need to maintain a good GPA and work hard to get good SAT/ACT scores. You can find all the information on what grades and scores are required by going to the NCAA eligibility website by clicking HERE and looking at the information they provide. There you will be able to find eligibility requirements for Division I and Division II schools.

For information and questions you may have regarding DII, DIII, the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), NAIA Eligibility, the NLI (National Letter of Intent), NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), ACCAC (Arizona Community College Athletic Conference), or the College Board, click HERE. Our partner, Arizona Recruiting Source, provides direct links to all these outlets.

Q: How important are good grades?A: Good grades are very important to play college sports for a Division I or Division II school. Check the website listed in the previous question for all grade requirements.

Q: When should I start the recruiting process?A: Start the recruiting process early. Getting started your freshman year is a great idea. If you have not started the process by freshman year, it is not too late. Just make sure once you have decided on your sport and identified colleges, you start the process to be eligible and get noticed.

Q: What things can I do to get noticed and be eligible for college sports?A: As soon as you decide you want to play college athletics you need to take steps to make that happen. Work hard at the sport you have chosen. Make sure you give your best at practices and games and do some extra work on your own time. If you have the grades to be eligible for a Division I or Division II school then make sure you keep them up. If you are not confident that your SAT/ACT score will be high enough then think about getting a tutor. Make sure you have identified several colleges you would be willing to attend. Having a specific college to focus on is fine, but do not limit yourself to just one or two colleges. Give yourself plenty of opportunity to be noticed and recruited by several colleges.

Q: How much should parents help their student/athlete with the recruitment process?A: It is always good to have the support of your family and friends when making a big decision. Parents can definitely be involved in your recruiting process. Just remember that coaches will probably prefer to hear from you (the athlete) when being contacted to look at a recruitment video. The student should be the one to contact college coaches. If you start this freshman year, this may help you be more comfortable and confident when talking to college coaches. Remember, your parents do not know what you are thinking. Make sure you talk to them about your plans for college and listen to their advice and insight. They probably have some good information that will help you with your dream of playing college sports.

Q: How often should I update my information?A: Updating your information often is very important. If you start the recruiting process your freshman year a lot of thing can change by the time you are a senior. Make sure you keep information on your grades, game statistics, awards, and physical development updated regularly.

Q: Will my coach help me get a scholarship?A: That is up to your coach. Remember that coaches have a lot of athletes they work with and probably will not have the time to take care of your recruiting process. Make sure you do as much of the work as necessary and ask your coach for advice. Maybe your coach has contacts at the college level that he or she would be willing to speak to on your behalf, but you will likely need to do most of the work yourself.

Q: I have three schools in mind; is that enough?A: Three schools will most likely not be enough. Unless you are being seriously recruited by the three schools then you need to identify several more schools that you would be willing to attend. Remember, coaches are usually looking to fill specific positions on a team. Even if you are the top shortstop on your high school team, if your chosen college is not looking for a shortstop then they may pass you over. Give yourself the best possible opportunity for a college career by identifying several colleges you would like to attend.

Q: Besides ability, what do college coaches look for?A: College coaches will look for athletes who are also good students. They will look for someone who is a good fit for their team and someone who fills a specific position. A recruitment video can give a coach some idea what kind of person you are and how you will perform at various positions.

Q: Is this process as stressful as it sounds?A: Trying to navigate the recruitment process can be challenging and confusing. During this stressful time, don’t forget to take time to relax and have fun. It will be worth all the hard work when you are accepted to a college you have chosen and have the opportunity to pursue your dream of a continuing education and playing your favorite sport at the next level.